Mechanism for crimping skirt portion of closure element under ledge of container



y 3, 1956 w. PECHY 2,752,745

MECHANISM FOR CRIMPING SKIRT PORTION OF CLOSURE ELEMENT uNOER LEDGE OF CONTAINER Filed May 23, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W? 14 2% 2 l m 77 k i. J] M I} 5 I 5 w INVENTOR.

W/AZMM P5077 BY $4. zxjw M W wn w. PECHY 2,752,745 RIMPIN KIRT PORTION OF CLOSURE UNDER GE OF CONTAINER LED July 3, 1956 MECHANISM FOR 0 ELEMENT Filed May 25, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 3, 1956 PECHY 2,752,745

MECHANISM FOR CRIM G SKIRT PORTION OF CLOSURE ELEMENT UNDER LEDGE OF CONTAINER Filed May 25, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 J w a,

INVENTOR.

l V/ll //4M PfTflY I BY M Ma fid/wn ATTOf/VEYS MECHANISM FUR CRTlv TPENG SKIRT PORTION OF CLGSURE ELEMENT UNDER LEDGE F CON- TAINER William Pechy, Belmar, N. 5., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 23, 1952, Serial No. 289,537

9 Claims. (Cl. 53377) The present invention relates to can closing machines for sealing the flap or skirt portion of a closure element on a filled fibre milk container, can or bottle and has particular reference to mechanism for crimping the skirt portion of the closure element down over an edge or projection of the container. This is an improvement over United States Patent 2,366,748, issued January 9, 1945, to John H. Murch et al. on Can Closing Machine.

An object of the invention is the provision in a can closing machine of a closure element edge crimping mechanism of simple and rugged construction which is self-contained and propelled by a rotating shaft and which due to its rugged parts is capable of uniformly distributing a heavy duty crimping pressure along the full length of the skirt portion of the closure element to insure tight crimping of the closure element in place on the container.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a portion of a container closing machine including a crimping mechanism embodying the instant invention, the view showing a container in place to be operated upon, parts being broken away;

Figs. 2 and 3 are top plan sectional views taken substantially along the lines 22, 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational detail as viewed along the line 44 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing certain of the parts and the container in crimping position;

Fig. 6 is a reduced scale elevational view of a crimping tool carrier unit used in the mechanism, the view being taken substantially along the line 66 in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a reduced scale perspective exploded view showing the several members which make up the carrier units shown in Fig. 6; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged schematic sectional views of fragmentary parts of the mechanism and the container and illustrating the relation of the parts to the container during the various stages of the crimping operation.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate a crimping mechanism for crimping a skirt portion A (Fig. 1) of a closure element B down over a projecting top edge or ledge C of a square fibre milk container D of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,182,818, issued December 12, 1939, to John H. Murch on Container Closer. The closure element B preferably is hingedly connected to the top of the container and is provided with a friction plug E which fits into and seals a dispensing opening in one corner of the container top. The skirt portion A of the closure element B projects down over the corner adjacent the dispensing opening and extends along the two diverging edges of the container for nearly half their lengths.

2,752,745 Fatented July 3, 1956 When in crimped position under the edge of the container top, this skirt portion locks the closure element B in place against accidental opening during shipment and storage of the container and also keeps the edge of the container, over which the milk is poured, in sanitary condition.

In a container closing machine, the container to be closed is usually maintained in an upright position and is lifted up into the closing mechanism for closing, although in some cases it is desirable to keep the container at a predetermined level and move the closing mechanism down onto the container. In the instant case, for purposes of simplicity in illustration, the crimping mechanism is made stationary and the container is deposited on a lifter pad 12 (Fig. l) which is vertically operable or reciprocable in any suitable manner to raise the container into crimping position relative to the mechanism.

The crimping mechanism includes a preferably cylindrical stationary housing 14 (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5) having integral top and side walls 15, 16 respectively and a separate detachable bottom plate 17. The bottom plate 17 fits into a shouldered annular locating recess 18 in the housing side wall 16 and is secured in place by bolts 19 which extend through the bottom plate and are threadedly secured in the housing top wall 15. The housing 14 is supported and held stationary by an upright tubular stem or sleeve 21 which extends up from the housing top wall 15 and is clamped in a two piece support block 22 on an arm 23 which may be a part of the closing machine.

Two of the bolts 19 which secure the bottom plate 17 to the housing 14 are utilized to cooperate with a V-shaped locating block 25 to properly locate a container D in crimping position under the housing. For this purpose the heads of these two bolts 19 are formed with conical shaped locating buttons 26 (Figs. 1 and 3) which engage against the portion of the top edge C of the container which is remote from the closure element B and thus hold the container in position. The remote corner of the container is engaged in the locating block 25 (Figs. 3 and 5). This block 25 is illustrated as removably secured to the housing side Wall 16 and extends down therefrom into container locating position as best shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

The bottom plate 17 of the housing 14 carries a triangular shaped fiat anvil 27 (Figs. 1, 5 and 7) which is located in a position which coincides with and aligns with the corner of the container D which carries the closure element B. The anvil is engaged by this corner of the container when the container is properly located by the buttons 26 and block 25 and is elevated by the lifter pad 12 as best shown in Fig. 5.

Crimping of the skirt portion A under the ledge C of the container D held in position against the anvil 27 is effected by a V-shaped crimping jaw or tool 31 (Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 7) formed with an inwardly projecting crimping shoulder 32 having a fiat horizontal top face 33 which is parallel with the bottom face of the anvil 27. This crimping jaw 31 is disposed adjacent and below the anvil 27 in alignment with the closure element carrying corner of the container D.

The crimping jaw 31 is movable in two directions, i. e. laterally or parallel with the anvil 27 in a direction toward the corner of the container, and vertically or normal to the anvil in an upward direction toward the under face of the ledge C of the container. For this purpose the crimping jaw 31 is formed with an upright arcuate collar portion 35 (Figs. 3 and 7) which extends up through clearance openings 36 in the housing bottom plate 17. Adjacent these openings 36 the plate 17 is formed with a guide tongue 37 (see Figs. 3 and 7) which fits into a transverse slot 38 in the arcuate collar portion 35 of the jaw 31 and thus serves as a longitudinal guide for 3 guiding the cr'im'pin'g'jaw 31 toward the corner of the container'D.

The arcuate collar portion'l35 of the crimping jaw 31, fits within and is illustrated as removably secured to a similardepeiiding' collar portion 41"of 'a crimping tool carrierrriefrib'er 42located within'the housing114i The depending" collar portion 41' of the carrier member 42' extends "down throughthe clearance openings ,36 in the housingbottom'plate"17' and is'p'rovided with a transverse slot 43-f0r the tongue-37 of the plate 17ra11d'thus serves as a guide for the carrier member 42] The carrier member 42 is 'a ring'shaped member hav- 7 ing vertical sidekvall's Assess top.wall"46.' l The bottom of them'ember is open. This carrier member; which carries the crimping .jaw 31, rests on and. is slidable along.

the inner face ofthe housing-bottom plate 17. A flat springi47v'interposed between the top wall 46 of the carrier member and theutop. wall15 of the-housing 14' presses the carrier member into engagement with 'the housing bottom plate 17 but permits of :a vertical movement-of thecarrier member within the housingtfor the crimping operation as will be more fully. explained hereinafterw.

Thecarrier member 42i-lis moved horizontally and vertically within the housing-14 through cam action-to effect the vmovement of the crimping jaw 31 as hereinbeforementioned. The horizontal or lateralmovement-of the carrier member '42 is effected-by a horizontally disposededg'e cam 51'(Figs. 1, 2 and disposed within-the carrier member in-parallelism withand adjacent" its top wall 46. The cam.51-is carried by or as illustrated preferably is formed on a vertical-rotatable shaft 52 which be-- low the-camis journaled in thehousingzbott'om plate 1'7 and.the anvil-27 andwhich shaft above the cam, ex

guide slot 43 in the carrier member 42, and said button is maintained in this alignment by'upperand lower trunnions-57-formed on the button.

housing 'bottomplate 17; These slots 58;'59are disposed in alignmentwith and diametrically oppositeto the guide tongue "37 'of' thcho'using'bottom plate-17"and thus 'cooperate with the tongue and the slots 38 ,"43 in'-the crin iping tool 31 and the carrier-member 4z respectivelyi This serves toconfine the movement of the carrier member to 1 The trunnions 57 operate 1 in a slot 58"(Fig.: 1) in the housingutop walllS and ma vertically aligned slot 59 '(see' also Fig. 3) "formed' in the" a straight line action for-guidingthe crimping 12001-31 toward and away from theclosureelement cornerof the container D." v

A fiat spring-61(Figs. 1 and 2) interposed between the inner face of the housing-sidewall 16=and the outer face of the carrier-member side wall '45 provides a yieldable mounting for the carrier member and maintains the follower button 56' in contact with the edge cam 51.

Hence asthe shaft 52 "and cam 51 are rotated, the carrier member 42 and its depending crimping tool 31'are re-' ciprocatedtowa'rd and awayfrom the closure element corner-of"the-container D in a direction laterallyof or.

parallel with the anvil 27.

The vertical movement of the carrier'member 42 is eifected bya pair of cam balls 63 (Figs. 1 and '5) which are looselydisposedin retaining holes 64 formed in the cam 51. rite balls" are larger in diameter than the thickness of the cam and'thereby extend above and below the 4 top and bottom faces of the cam. These balls 63 ride on a "stationary-curvedauxiliary' cam track- 66-(Figsr 1,' -3,- 4 and 5) formed on the upperor inner face of the housing bottom plate 17, concentric with the axis of the vertical cam shaft 52. At two places, aligned with the carrier member guide slots 43,58, 59 as shown in Fig. 3, the cam track 66 is formed with high spots or upwardly extendingltapered projections 67 (see also Figs.'4 and 5) which elevate'the cam balls 63 when they ride-up onto these high spots. In riding up on these high spots the cam balls engage against the-inner face of the'top wall 46 of the carrier member-:42 andfthus raise the-carrier member against the force of the flat spring 47.

The cam balls 63 are located in the cam'51inalignment with the high spot on the cam as best shown in Fig. 2 so that the horizontal movement of the carrier member 42 begins slightly in advance of its vertical movement and continues for a short period after-its verticalmovement, This. combined movement .of the/ carrier-.- member 42 in two directions results ina corresponding movement of the carrier member supported \crimpinga tool 31. 4

At the beginning: of a cycle oftoperationwithihee closureelementB of the container D, clamped by the lifter x" device 12, against the anvil 27 as best shown in .Fig.: -8, the crimping. tool 31 moves-in a horizontal-direction toward the 1 adjacent corner of the r container so that its--- crimpingshoulder 32 engages against the'dependingrskirt portion A of-the closure-element B asshownin Fig. -,.8'

andthus" bends meskirt portion inwardly toward the Asthis bending=action continues dhetcam balls '63 are-onthe topsof-the high spots 67 of the-cam track'-66,--the skirt portion A is in :fully: folded pbsition under the ledge- C- of the container and the fiat top 33 of the crimping shoulder 32 presses it tightly against'th'e' ledge C and anvil 27 to insure-its remaining in 'placesas best shown in Fig-I10. It should be understood that:thiss? folding operation takes place alongwthe entire length of the skirt portion A. At the corner-of: the-container themaction interfolds the a divergent sides of the skirt portion in a neat fold which tends to maintain the' entir'e folded- I under skirt portion in place.

Following-this maximum peak' pressure "on' the folded under skirt portion 'A," the crimping ttool '31 re'cedes;. .fol lowing through the combined'movements as m'enti'oned above; but in reverse;-thus;moving awayrfrom' the corner of the container While leavingthe skirt portion Aiti'ght-ly." secured against the ledge C of the containen The con? tainer is then lowered away from the anvil'27 by a1owere ing of the lifter pad -12'(Fig;-i12) for-removal in 'anv' desired manner from-thecrimpingmechanism:toa suit able place of deposit.-

It is thought that the invention"and"many-iof its at tendant advantages-will be understood fromthe foregoing-i description," and it'will'be apparentthatvarious chahges may be" made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the-spiritand scope of the-invention or sacrificingall-of-its -'material':advan-. tageS, the form hereinbefore described beinghmerely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A mechanism-for crimping a skirt portion of a'*cI0-' sure element ofa container-over and-undera projecting;-

ledge of thecontainer to hold-said closure--element =in=- place, comprising amanvil-having-zasurface thereof en-" -i gageable-with-the top of-the containerdma plaire creme tact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, a housing enclosing a crimping tool and mounted adjacent said anvil, means cn said housing for locating the container and securing it against movement, and means for bodily moving said crimping tool relative to said housing and toward said anvil in two directions, respectively parallel with and normal to said plane of contact for folding said closure element skirt portion inwardly under the ledge of said container and also in an upward direction against the under face of said container ledge to secure said closure element in place.

2. A mechanism for crimping a skirt portion of a closure element of a container over and under a projecting ledge of the container to hold said closure element in place, comprising an anvil having a surface thereof engageable with the top of the container in a plane of contact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, a housing enclosing a crimping tool and mounted adjacent said anvil, means on said housing for locating the container and securing it against movement, and cam means for bodily shifting said crimping tool relative to said housing and toward said anvil in two directions simultaneously, parallel with and normal to said plane of contact for folding said closure element skirt portion inwardly under the ledge of said container, and also upwardly against the under face of said ledge to secure said closure element in place.

3. In a mechanism for crimping a skirt portion of a closure element of a container over and under a projecting ledge of the container to hold said closure element in place, the combination of an anvil having a surface thereof engageable with the top of the container in a plane of contact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, a carrier member yieldably mounted adjacent said anvil, a housing enclosing said carrier member and having means thereon for locating the container and to secure it against movement, a jaw crimping tool fixed on said carrier member, and means for moving said carrier member and said crimping tool as a unit in two directions, parallel with and normal to said plane of contact for shifting said crimping tool toward said anvil to fold said closure element skirt portion inwardly under the ledge of said container and upwardly against the under face of said ledge to secure said closure element in place.

4. In a mechanism for crimping a skirt portion of a closure element of a container over and under a projecting ledge of the container to hold said closure element in place, the combination of an anvil having its bottom surface engageable with the top of the container in a plane of contact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, a carrier member yieldably mounted adjacent said anvil, a housing enclosing said carrier member and having means thereon for locating the container and to secure it against movement, a jaw crimping tool rigidly mounted on said carrier member, cam means acting against said carrier member for moving the same and said crimping tool as a unit parallel with said plane of anvil surface contact for folding said closure element skirt portion inwardly under the ledge of said container, and auxiliary cam means acting against said carrier member for moving said crimping tool normal to and toward said plane of anvil surface contact for pressing the folded-in closure element skirt portion upwardly against the under face of said container ledge to secure said closure element in place.

5. A mechanism for crimping a skirt portion of a closure element of a container over and under a projecting ledge of the container to hold said closure element in place, comprising a housing having means thereon to locate the container and to secure it against movement, an anvil secured to said housing and having a bottom surface engageable with the top of the container in a plane of contact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, a carrier member yieldably mounted in said housing, a crimping tool rigidly carried by and cooperating stationary and movable cam means in said housing for shifting said, carrier member in a direction normal to said plane of contact, said rotatable and said auxiliary cam means cooperating to first move said carrier member and crimping tool as a unit laterally toward said anvil to fold said closure element skirt portion inwardly under the ledge of said container and thereafter in a direction upwardly against the under face of said container ledge to secure said closure element in place.

6. In a mechanism for crimping a skirt portion of a closure element of a container over and under a projecting ledge of the container to hold said closure element in place, the combination of a housing having means thereon to locate the container and to secure it against movement, an anvil secured to said housing and having a bottom surface engageable with the top of the container in a plane of contact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, a carrier member yieldably mounted in said housing, a crimping tool fixedly carried by and projecting from said carrier member and disposed adjacent said anvil, a cam rotatable on an axis and disposed in said housing in operating engagement with said carrier member, means for rotating said cam to shift said carrier member with said tool in a direction laterally of said plane of contact, a stationary cam track in said housing in concentric relation to said cam axis, and a cam track follower element carried in said rotatable cam and interposed between said cam track and said carrier member for shifting the carrier member with said tool in a direction normal to said plane of contact upon rotation of said rotatable cam, whereby said crimping tool is moved toward said anvil for folding said closure element skirt portion inwardly under the ledge of said container and upwardly against the under face of said ledge to secure said closure element in place.

7. A mechanism for crimping a skirt portion of a closure element of a container over and under a projecting ledge of the container to hold said closure element in place, comprising a housing having means thereon for locating the container and to secure it against movement, an anvil on said housing having a bottom surface engageable with the top of the container in a plane of contact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, a carrier member yieldably mounted adjacent said anvil, a jaw crimping tool rigidly mounted on said carrier member, means for guiding said carrier member in two directions, parallel to and normal to said plane of contact, and means for bodily moving said carrier member and said crimping tool as a unit in said parallel and normal directions for shifting said crimping tool toward said anvil to fold said closure element skirt portion inwardly under the ledge of said container and upwardly against the under face of said ledge to secure said closure element in place.

8. A mechanism for crimping a skirt portion of a closure element of a container over and under a projecting ledge of the container to hold said closure element in place, comprising a housing having means thereon for locating the container and to secure it against movement, an anvil on said housing having a surface thereof engageable with the top of a container in a plane of contact therebetween adjacent said closure element skirt portion, means for locating and holding said container against said anvil, a housing enclosing a crimping tool and mounted for movement relative to said anvil, and means for bodily shifting said crimping tool relative to said housing and toward said anvil in two directions, parallel with and normal to said plane of scontact =for-folding said closure element skirt portion inwardly under. the ledge of said container and also upwardlytagainst the'underfaceof said ledge-to secure said closureelement inXplace.--

9; In-a mechanism-foncrimping a-skirt portion of -a closure element of-a container over and under a projecting ledgeofthe container to hold said closure ele mentIz-indplace," the-combination of a housing havingmeans thereon -to-locate the containerand to secure it against -movement,-an-anvil secured exteriorly'of and to -thmbottomof said housing and having its-bottom surface--engageable with the top-of the container in a" plane of. contact therebetweenadjacent said closure element' skirt portion, a carrier member disposed insaidhousing and slidably'mounted on the bottom thereof,- cooperatin'grguide 1 means: on said carrier member and in the bottom fwof-isaidshousing for guidinga saidcarrier member 1 through a straight linelaterai- I movement andthrougli a anorma'l movementrelative to said plane of 1 anvilc'ontact, spring means interposed between the top of "said housing and said carrier member and between i the=side of said housing-andsaid "carrier" member for 81 providing a yield-able mounting for said carrier member, a jaw clinching tool projecting fromsaid carrier member through V thebottom of said housing. and disposed adja-- cent said anv il; andcam means :within said housing for shifting said carrier-member through said lateral and normal guided-movements relative to said plane of anvil contact, whereby to move said crimping tool to ward said -anvil'for folding-saidclosure element skirt portion inwardlyunder the ledge of said container and also upwardly against the under face of said ledge to secure said closure element in placer References Cit'edfin'the file of this patent UNITED 7 STATES PATENTS- 

